All Bets Off rallies for victory in Rooney

All Bets Off, a son of Bettor's Delight, won the $300,000 Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night, scoring in 1:52.2 over Some Playa, with Maxi Bon third an Unlocked fourth.

Odds-on favorite All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley, $2.60) was both anxious and effective in winning. In play from post position No. 3 as the 3-10 favorite, All Bets Off made the first lead in the 24th Rooney. He then handed the baton to second choice Stevensville (Tim Tetrick) right around a :27.1 opening quarter-mile. The song remained the same at the 55.1 intermission and early in the backstretch the second time.

That's when Maxi Bon (Dan Dube) moved from fourth, and he was in a hurry. He disposed of a no-fight Stevensville just after a 1:23.3 three-quarters. Good thing for All Bets Off that nothing was moving behind "Maxi,” as he was able to extricate himself.

All Bets off collared the new leader early in the lane, then held off a rallying Some Playa (George Brennan) by a length-and-a-half in 1:52.2. Maxi Bon held third, with Unlocked (Brent Holland) closing from last to grab fourth. Bondi Hanover (Jason Bartlett) earned the final pay envelope, with Gold Rocks (Eric Goodell), a tiring Stevensville and Ideal Fashion (Jordan Stratton) rounding out the order.

For All Bets Off, a son of Bettor's Delight co-owned (as Burke Racing) by (trainer) Ron Burke, Frank Baldachino, Panhellenic Stables and Rosemary Shelswell, he's now 3-for-4 this season (earnings of $180,250). The exacta paid $15.80, with no triple returning $44.20.

"Oh, yeah, I was worried,” Kakaley said. "I thought giving up the lead (to Stevensville) was the right thing to do.”Then I saw Danny's (Dube, with Max Bon) coming fast and I knew I was in trouble. I was lucky to get out. If I don't, I'm shuffled out, and probably last.

"He's (All Bets Off) handy enough for the half-mile , but I think he can carry his speed to bigger tracks, too,” Kakaley said. "Every start, (All Bets Off) has been on his toes. Give Ronnie (Burke) and his crew an A-plus. I'm just fortunate to have the drive.” (Yonkers)